T.O. Music Notes

Though long since presumed dead, it appears prairie-pop combo the Waltons are not only alive and still friendly but performing twice at Ted's Friday and Saturday (February 23 and 24), with the tape rolling for future release.

Contacted at his home studio in the wilds of Regina -- where he's waist-deep producing scores for film and TV, plus new stuff slated for a solo disc -- Waltons leader Jason Plumb acknowledges that the group has been in limbo since the DOA delivery of their third and last studio disc, 98's Empire Hotel. It was a sad turn for a band that, just a few years earlier, enjoyed the international major-label release of their Lik My Trakter debut, plus attendant gold records, Juno Awards and high-profile tours. Waltons music was also featured in the film Naked In New York, but, Plumb contends, by 98 Warner Music choked on distribution.

Thus stymied, Plumb and fellow Walton Keith Nakonechny picked up the threads in Saskatchewan, while T.O.-based members Sean Bryson and Todd Lumley started families. But Plumb says the folks behind Canadian online music distributor MapleMusic recently approached them about cutting a live disc, one of three -- including forthcoming Lowest of the Low and Melanie Doane sets -- intended to launch an affiliate imprint.

"The MapleMusic guys were big fans, and they wanted us to make an album," Plumb says. "Of course, the cheapest way to do that is to record live. We're calling this a fans' album -- it'll include some unreleased studio stuff, some demos, acoustic recordings, plus some live songs recorded at Ted's." Release date is tba.

"We've never declared that we weren't a band any more. We were just doing other things. " However, Plumb says the Waltons won't tour unless there's strong demand. "We're getting too old for that," he chuckles. "We've gone soft." Tickets are $10/door, or $8 at www.maplemusic.com.KH

Though long since presumed dead, it
appears prairie-pop combo the Waltons
are not only alive and still friendly but
performing twice at Ted's Friday and
Saturday (February 23 and 24), with the
tape rolling for future release.

Contacted at his home studio in the wilds
of Regina -- where he's waist-deep
producing scores for film and TV, plus new
stuff slated for a solo disc -- Waltons
leader Jason Plumb acknowledges that
the group has been in limbo since the
DOA delivery of their third and last studio
disc, 98's Empire Hotel. It was a sad turn
for a band that, just a few years earlier,
enjoyed the international major-label
release of their Lik My Trakter debut, plus
attendant gold records, Juno Awards and
high-profile tours. Waltons music was also
featured in the film Naked In New York,
but, Plumb contends, by 98 Warner Music
choked on distribution.

Thus stymied, Plumb and fellow Walton
Keith Nakonechny picked up the threads
in Saskatchewan, while T.O.-based
members Sean Bryson and Todd Lumley
started families. But Plumb says the folks
behind Canadian online music distributor
MapleMusic recently approached them
about cutting a live disc, one of three --
including forthcoming Lowest of the Low
and Melanie Doane sets -- intended to
launch an affiliate imprint.

"The MapleMusic guys were big fans, and
they wanted us to make an album," Plumb
says. "Of course, the cheapest way to do
that is to record live. We're calling this a
fans' album -- it'll include some
unreleased studio stuff, some demos,
acoustic recordings, plus some live songs
recorded at Ted's." Release date is tba.

"We've never declared that we weren't a
band any more. We were just doing other
things. " However, Plumb says the
Waltons won't tour unless there's strong
demand. "We're getting too old for that,"
he chuckles. "We've gone soft." Tickets
are $10/door, or $8 at
www.maplemusic.com.KH